Parliament yesterday approved a government-proposed plan to split Sk166.6 billion ($3.5 billion) from privatisation sales this year between launching pension reform (Sk66.3 billion) and paying down state debt (Sk50 billion).
A further Sk9.1 billion was earmarked for redeeming state bonds held by the VÚB bank, and Sk5.1 billion for covering state-guaranteed loans. Towns and municipalities received slightly over Sk4 billion for building new gas mains.
Economic analysts approved the move, all the more as some government politicians had threatened to turn the money to ‘development projects’ in the lead-up to fall elections.
Compiled by Tom Nicholson from press reports.
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
